Families of slain bank-robbery suspects support police response
The families of two slain bank-robbery suspects said on Friday that police in the northern California city of Stockton acted appropriately when they engaged in a gunbattle with their sons.
Gregory Jon Martinez said he thought police use of lethal force was justifiable and expressed condolences for the family of the hostage found dead after the hourlong robbery, car chase and gunbattle.
"We hold no animosity or blame the Stockton Police Department for behaving the way they did," Martinez said, noting that some of his family members are in law enforcement. "We believe that, given the circumstances, the department behaved in a manner that was appropriate."
His son, Alex Gregory Martinez, 27, was one of two suspects killed on Wednesday; a third survived after authorities said he used hostage Misty Holt-Singh as a human shield during the gunfight with police.
The mother of the other slain suspect, Gilbert Renteria Jr., 30, said she believed her son was a good person who made a terrible decision.
— From wire reports